Tray for retaining a recording disc

ABSTRACT

Packaging tray for a recording disc that includes: a) a recess sized to house a circular disc, the recess being characterized by the absence of a raised hub for engaging the central aperture of the disc; and b) at least one releasable catch at the periphery of the recess.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to packaging for recording discs, and more particularly to trays that hold compact discs or DVD recordings in retail packaging.

BACKGROUND

Packaging for recording discs, such as trays used in retail packaging for compact disc or DVD recordings, should hold the disc in place firmly, while conveniently enabling release when desired. Various CD trays include a hub that fits into the central opening in the disc and holds the disc in place by friction. U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,089 discloses a compact disc storage package that includes a holder formed of an easily but resiliently compressible material, configured and dimensioned to extend snugly through the disc's central aperture. In that way, the holder retains the recording medium until the recording medium is forcibly removed. Other prior art CD packages include those disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,405; U.S. Pat. No. 5,219,417, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,788,068.

SUMMARY

The invention generally features a packaging tray for a recording disc that includes: a) a recess sized to house a circular disc, the recess being characterized by the absence of a raised hub for engaging the central aperture of the disc; and b) at least one releasable catch at the periphery of the recess.

For example, the recess can be entirely open, in which case it obviously would not have a raised hub, or the recess can have a floor that is flat enough in the hub region so that it does not engage the disc aperture. Preferably the releasable catch includes a fastener presented on a flexible member that moves between a first position in which the fastener fastens the disc in place to a second position in which the fastener is released from the disc. The tray may also include tabs that cooperate with the fastener to hold the disc in place. The flexible member can be part of a single molded plastic piece that includes the fastener. Preferably the entire tray is a single molded plastic piece that includes the fastener and the flexible member. For example, the tray may include a hinged tab that includes the fastener and that moves when manually activated to move the fastener out of position. It may also include the cooperating tabs. The tray may also include recesses sized to allow a user to insert a finger tip under the disc to aid in disc removal. In one embodiment the tray is molded crystal styrene.

The invention provides a simple, and relatively inexpensive design that securely holds the disc and releases the disc conveniently when desired.

The details of one or more embodiments of the invention are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features, objects, and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a is a top view of a tray according to the invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross section taken along 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the releaseable catch of the tray in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tray of FIG. 1.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the figures, a single piece of molded crystalline styrene forms tray 10. Tray 10 is designed to be inserted into retail packaging for a commercial CD or DVD recording disc. Other portions of the packaging are not shown but it will be understood that tray 10 can be attached to fiberboard or other materials conventionally used for such packaging.

Tray 10 is designed to safely hold the disc (not shown) in a generally circular recess 12 defined by beveled wall 14. In the figures, recess 12 has no floor—i.e. there is nothing that needs to engage the central aperture of the disc. This is advantageous in that it reduces the amount of material needed to mold the tray and it simplifies the insertion process because the disc is readily centered by sliding it into the recess as described below, without the need to locate a center hub.

Releasable catch 16 includes a foot 18 with wall 20 extending vertically therefrom. Tab 21 extends out from wall 20, and tab 21 is spaced apart from foot 18 a distance slightly greater than the thickness of a disc. A push button 22 extends from the top of wall 20. Opposing the action of releasable catch 16 are two holding tabs 26 and 28 extending from the top of tray 10 on the opposite side of the tray from catch 16. Tray 10 also includes indentations 30 (four shown) to permit the user to exert finger-tip pressure on the disc to aid its removal. Slits 24 separate push-button 22 and wall 20 from the rest of the tray. Slits 24 extend part of the distance into foot 18. In this way, a hinge action is created permitting movement of push-button 22, wall 20, tab 21 and a portion of foot 18 with respect to the rest of the tray.

In use, the user slides an edge of a disc under holding tabs 26 and 28 and presses the disc into recess 12. This pressing action pushes tab 21 (and with it, wall 20 and push button 22 laterally so that the disc edge clears tab 21 and is seated in recess 12. The disc is held in place by the action of holding tabs 26 and 28, and by tab 21. To release the disc, actuation of push-button 22 moves tab 21 beyond the edge of the disc so that the user can slide the disc out from under the holding tabs.

A number of embodiments of the invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A packaging tray for a recording disc that comprises: a) a recess sized to house a circular disc, the recess being characterized by the absence of a raised hub for engaging the central aperture of the disc; and b) at least one releasable catch at the periphery of the recess.
 2. The tray of claim 1 in which the recess is entirely open.
 3. The tray of claim 1 in which the recess comprises a floor that is dimensioned to remain below the disc aperture.
 4. The tray of claim 1 in which the releasable catch includes a fastener presented on a flexible member that moves between a first position in which the fastener fastens the disc in place to a second position in which the fastener is released from the disc.
 5. The tray of claim 4 in which the fastener is position on the periphery of the recess, and the tray further comprises tabs positioned opposite the fastener to cooperate with the fastener to hold the disc in place when the fastener is in the first position.
 6. The tray of claim 4 in which the flexible member is part of a single molded plastic piece that includes the fastener.
 7. The tray of claim 4 in which the tray is a single molded plastic piece that includes the fastener and the flexible member.
 8. The tray of claim 4 or claim 7 in which the tray comprises a hinged tab that includes the fastener and that moves when manually activated to move the fastener into and out of position.
 9. The tray of claim 7 in which the fastener is position on the periphery of the recess, and the tray further comprises tabs positioned opposite the fastener to cooperate with the fastener to hold the disc in place when the fastener is in the first position and the tabs are part of the single molded plastic piece.
 10. The tray of claim 1 further comprising recesses sized to allow a user to insert a finger tip under the disc to aid in disc removal.
 11. The tray of claim 6 in which the tray is molded crystalline styrene. 